They name it NFL Christmas as a result of there is not any telling what surprises are ready within the draft. And the fantastic thing about the draft is that, whether or not it is the primary general choice or choose No. 199, anybody may go on to turn into the league’s subsequent legend.
All of that enjoyable rhetoric apart, no two drafts are created equal. Many NFL golf equipment are already primed for competition, it doesn’t matter what occurs on the finish of April, and an unfortunate few are in all probability nonetheless at the very least yet one more draft away.
Then there are these with probably the most to achieve. Each draft presents a chance for also-rans to leap to the forefront, and this yr is not any exception.
Listed here are eight groups who can turn into contenders (to various levels) by nailing their 2025 draft.
Mickey Loomis’ refusal to take a step backward can be admirable if it did not really feel so reckless. The Saints’ basic supervisor has as soon as once more pushed his chips in, restructuring Derek Carr’s deal and signing Justin Reid in free company. New Orleans will as soon as once more attempt to win the NFC South in 2025, which can imply counting on a (very) veteran core of 34-year-old Carr, 30-year-old Alvin Kamara, 36-year-old Cam Jordan, 36-year-old Demario Davis and 33-year-old Tyrann Mathieu to each keep wholesome and get the job finished.
It is technically attainable. The Saints regarded fairly good final yr earlier than the whole roster acquired damage, and key items like Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Erik McCoy will hopefully be more healthy in 2025.
what’d assist loads, too? An infusion of productive younger gamers for this vet-heavy roster. They’ve seen this earlier than. The Saints have been caught within the cycle of mediocrity in 2017, when Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk, Marcus Williams, Kamara, Alex Anzalone and Trey Hendrickson confirmed up on the similar time, turning them right into a contender just about in a single day.
It’s kind of unfair to check anybody to that 2017 haul, which is likely to be one of the best draft class in historical past, however there’s nonetheless precedent for a fast turnaround. The Saints have 4 picks inside the highest 100, highlighted by the No. 9 general choose.
Add a few quick difference-makers into the combination, and the Saints very properly may win their division for the primary time since 2020.
2025 draft picks (9): Nos. 9, 40, 71, 93, 112, 131, 184, 248, 254
Denver could have put collectively probably the most thrilling offseason that nobody is speaking about.
Recent off a playoff look, the Broncos infused their protection with angle by raiding San Francisco’s pantry for 2 proficient tone-setters, Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufunga. The addition of Evan Engram on offense did not flip any heads, nevertheless it supplies Bo Nix with a dependable weapon at a place that head coach Sean Payton values tremendously.
The Broncos have clearly upgraded their roster with out doing so recklessly. How a lot farther can they take it?
It is likely to be difficult. Because of their surprising success, the Broncos choose within the again half of every spherical. However there nonetheless must be ample alternative for enchancment.
Go forward and guess that Payton can be looking out for playmakers. Whether or not it is a new prime operating again or pass-catcher depth, Nix nonetheless wants extra weapons. The defensive entrance may use some depth, as properly.
The Russell Wilson commerce set the Broncos again a bit, however their previous two first-round draft picks are Nix and Patrick Surtain II. If they will hold that monitor file rolling, we may see them change from a pleasing shock to a real drive within the AFC.
2025 draft picks (7): Nos. 20, 51, 85, 122, 191, 197, 208
If you happen to squint, you’ll be able to see the imaginative and prescient for the Seahawks’ pivot to Sam Darnold.
Mike Macdonald’s protection seems prefer it’s rounding into type. If everybody stays wholesome, the defensive entrance goes 5 – 6 deep with guys who can rush the passer, Ernest Jones was a revelation at linebacker final yr, and the secondary is affected by younger abilities. It is a unit that ought to have the ability to take some strain off its quarterback, very like the Vikings did for Darnold in 2024.
The problem is with the offense, which does not appear to be it has as away from a plan as the opposite facet of the ball. The Seahawks signed Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling to offset the losses of Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, however that does not precisely really feel like an improve. That is with out mentioning the offensive line, which was one of many NFL’s worst in 2024 and hasn’t added a lot in the way in which of recent items.
That leaves a heck of a job for basic supervisor John Schneider to do on the finish of the month. Like a number of different GMs on this listing, Schneider has been on this place earlier than — which might be why he is comfy turning to the draft to deal with his issues. Schneider drafted Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Richard Sherman, Okay.J. Wright, Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson in a three-year interval, serving to to show the Seahawks from a mediocre afterthought to a crew of the last decade. And whereas he hasn’t loved a run that good ever since, the Seahawks’ three most up-to-date drafts have produced a strong group of younger gamers.
There is not any time like the current for one more grand slam. Seattle netted a second-round choose within the Metcalf commerce, and a third-round choose once they despatched Geno Smith to Las Vegas. They’ve 5 top-100 picks with which so as to add to this roster and hopefully give Darnold a greater supporting forged.
The Seahawks have completed with a profitable file for 3 straight years, however they’ve but to legitimately break by means of within the post-Russell Wilson period. This draft may assist them accomplish that.
2025 draft picks (10): Nos. 18, 50, 52, 82, 92, 137, 172, 175, 223, 234
It is an annual adage that the draft is the life blood of the NFL. No crew takes that extra actually than the Dallas Cowboys.
To be honest to them, the Cowboys did barely extra throughout 2025 free company than they did in 2024. Doing barely greater than completely nothing is not actually price celebrating, although.
The Cowboys have star energy, however in addition they have a roster filled with holes. There is not at the moment a No. 2 receiver behind CeeDee Lamb, there is a sizable query mark at proper guard after Zack Martin’s retirement. Trevon Diggs won’t be recovered from knee surgical procedure in time for the beginning of the season and Jourdan Lewis left in free company, so cornerback is a giant concern. Even with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders on the roster, a proficient new operating again feels needed.
That is plenty of stuff to deal with, and solely so many draft picks to go round. However that is how the Cowboys select to function, and generally it really works. Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott gave them a shot within the arm with their phenomenal rookie seasons in 2016. Micah Parsons had an identical impact in 2021.
So, the mission is evident: discover at the very least one All-Professional, ideally two, on this yr’s draft, and the Cowboys may make the leap from middling crew to contender. Sounds easy sufficient.
2025 draft picks (10): Nos. 12, 44, 76, 149, 171, 174, 204, 211, 239, 247
Whenever you max out your bank card restrict on veteran stars, the draft can shortly turn into your solely choice.
No shade to the Dolphins for pushing their chips in. They tried to construct a Tremendous Bowl roster aggressively by buying and selling for Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb and Jalen Ramsey, and paying marquee free brokers like Terron Armstead.
The spending spree raised the Dolphins’ profile and acquired them to the postseason, however they stalled out in 2024 with no more cash left to spend.
If Tua Tagovailoa is wholesome, that is in all probability adequate to be related. If the Dolphins wish to matter much more so, it’ll take some good drafting.
That is been powerful to do lately. The Dolphins gave up their first and second-round picks in 2022 for Hill. They forfeited their first-round choose in 2023 and fourth-round choose in 2024 for violating the league’s tampering guidelines. They usually traded away a separate 2023 third-round choose for Ramsey, for good measure.
This yr, Miami has 10 complete draft picks and three of these fall within the prime 100. Not having the sources is not an excuse. The Dolphins want a shot within the arm if they’ll evolve right into a roster that is able to doing greater than dropping within the wild-card spherical.
2025 draft picks (10): Nos. 13, 48, 98, 116, 135, 150, 155, 224, 231, 253
Many of the groups on this listing are middle-of-the-pack models making an attempt to achieve the playoffs, or playoff groups making an attempt to take the subsequent step and actually contend.
Not the case right here. Tennessee has been a multitude for the previous three years, coping with energy struggles, firings and dangerous soccer. The Titans have not had a profitable file since 2021 and personal the No. 1 choose within the draft.
However we have seen yr after yr that the distinction between dysfunction and competition could be one good draft. The Houston Texans have been probably the most hopeless franchise within the NFL till they drafted C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. with back-to-back picks. Washington had been probably the most poisonous group within the league for a quarter-century till a brand new entrance workplace drafted Jayden Daniels. Each of these groups have been drafting No. 2 general the identical yr they went on inconceivable playoff runs.
The identical may very well be attainable for the Titans — offered they nail these upcoming picks.
Quarterback is the apparent one. Good cash says Cam Ward can be a Titan in a single month, and if he is the franchise quarterback they hope he’ll be, the educational curve won’t be too steep. Tennessee has already sunk a fortune into its offense, with first-round picks and high-priced free brokers all around the offensive line. Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears are a good sufficient ability group for a crew with the worst file within the league. The membership additionally holds the No. 35 choose, which may very well be used to safe a much-needed starter on both facet of the ball.
Nobody is making an attempt to promote the Titans as a Tremendous Bowl contender in 2025, even when Ward is a star. But when he hits the bottom operating, we should not be stunned if Tennessee is within the combine faster than anticipated and pushing for an AFC South crown this yr.
2025 draft picks (8): Nos. 1, 35, 103, 120, 141, 167, 178, 188
I am not shopping for the favored rhetoric that the 49ers have utterly fallen off. Sure, there have been plenty of massive losses in March, however there are nonetheless seven All-Execs on this roster. To not point out some thrilling younger items like Deommodore Lenoir, Malik Mustapha, Dominick Puni and Ricky Pearsall.
The 49ers ought to nonetheless be an excellent crew, however the difficulty is they do not appear to be the juggernaut they as soon as have been. It was a luxurious to have two star receivers, two star linebackers and a defensive entrance filled with productive veterans. That is not the case anymore.
However the enjoyable factor in regards to the Niners’ feast-or-famine historical past is that it advantages them come draft time. That is means too good of a roster to be choosing No. 11 general, but right here we’re.
San Francisco kick-started a Tremendous Bowl run underneath related circumstances. Accidents helped land the 49ers on the prime of the 2019 draft order, and so they responded by including Nick Bosa, Deebo Samuel and Dre Greenlaw to a roster that was already strong.
John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan must do one thing related right here. The 49ers want assist in the secondary and on the offensive line. Bosa may use some assist dashing the passer.
This crew must be good. They should add a future All-Professional or two to the listing they have already got if they’ll be nice.
2025 draft picks (11): Nos. 11, 43, 75, 100, 113, 138, 147, 160, 227, 249, 252
They simply is likely to be the obvious crew on this listing, after their busy March.
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are lastly underneath contract for the long run, and there is optimism in Cincinnati that Trey Hendrickson could be retained, as properly. Throw in Mike Gesicki, and Joe Burrow’s marketing campaign to maintain the Bengals’ key items within the fold was profitable.
It is a formidable improvement for a crew that traditionally hasn’t beloved to spend cash. However now the arduous half begins.
If you are going to pay that many marquee gamers, you merely must hit in your draft picks. It is Soccer Economics 101. However the issue for the Bengals is not simply that they should discover low-cost manufacturing, it is their struggles to take action.
The previous few drafts have not been as much as snuff in Cincinnati. Between the previous 24 gamers drafted by the Bengals, solely a handful have stuffed significant roles this far. The truth is, Burrow and Chase are the one Bengals first-round picks to achieve a Professional Bowl previously decade.
That may’t proceed if Cincinnati goes to maximise the prime years of those nice gamers. The Bengals want to search out starters, they should discover Professional Bowlers, they should discover the subsequent crop of men that may need massive contracts. And they should do it shortly, earlier than they’re left questioning why they did not win extra.
2025 draft picks (6): Nos. 17, 49, 81, 119, 153, 193
David Helman covers the NFL for FOX Sports activities and hosts the NFL on FOX podcast. He beforehand spent 9 seasons overlaying the Cowboys for the crew’s official web site. In 2018, he received a regional Emmy for his position in producing “Dak Prescott: A Household Reunion” in regards to the quarterback’s time at Mississippi State. Observe him on Twitter at @davidhelman_.
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